Chris Carmichael of CTS

Kyle Duford

President/ECD

Team 7-Eleven. Lance Armstrong's coach. US Cycling Hall of Fame Inductee. Supercoach.

Today on The Crux Podcast we have a very special guest and friend! We are excited to share our conversation with Chris Carmichael, former pro cyclist turned coach, who is the founder and CEO of CTS, through which he and his team bring the best in coaching methodologies to their elite athletes and private clients alike. In our conversation, we go deep into the philosophy that Chris and his company use as a foundation, and we get Chris to weigh in on some of the basics of coaching and training before getting more specific on areas of interest. Our guest shares his thoughts on the rise of new technologies, data usage, the advent of AI, and how these can both help and hinder the mission of coaches and athletes. As you will hear throughout this insightful episode, Chris is a strong believer in continuing the traditions of coaching and using the eternal building blocks of improvement, momentum, and determination, before looking to newer and shinier ways to approach challenges. We also get to talk a bit about what Chris' professional life looks like now, and why he still prioritizes his coaching practice this far into his career. You are not going to want to miss this fantastic chat with a true legend, so be sure to listen in!

[bctt tweet= "A lot of times, you get caught up in the minutia of something and really, if you follow the fundamental principles of training, that’s where your biggest gains are going to come from.” — Chris Carmichael, @trainright."]

Key Points From This Episode:

• 1An introduction to Chris and CTS' approach to training, as well as their target market.
• 2The building blocks of a strong training program; loading, recovery, and sticking to the fundamentals.
• 3How new technology and access to more data is impacting coaching in negative ways.
• 4Creating effective training plans within common time constraints.
• 5Chris' strategies for keeping his clients motivated and the vital mental component of inspiration.
• 6The most important people that have coached and guided Chris on his journey.
• 7Current coaching commitments for Chris and the handful of athletes he still works with.
• 8Avoiding the kind of obsessive training that can become unhealthy; Chris' thoughts on balance.
• 9Advice from Chris to aspiring coaches and the continual process of learning.
• 10The future of technology, sports, and coaching and the continued need for human involvement.
• 11The business side of CTS and the constraints that come with running a successful company.
• 12Chris' 'Crux question'; constant challenges that arise and systems to combat these.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

CTS
Chris Carmichael
CTS on Twitter
USA Cycling
Outside Magazine
VeloNews
Lance Armstrong
George Hincapie
Freddie Rodriguez
Kevin Livingston
Chann McRae
Bobby Julich
Eric Zaltas
Eddie Borysewicz
Jim Ochowicz
Davis Phinney
Bob Roll
Andy Hampsten
Jim Rutberg

Previous Episode:
Eric Zaltas of PowerBar®

Kyle Duford

President/ECD

Kyle is an executive creative director specializing in crafting outstanding advertising and branding for global brands looking to winnable market share. Kyle’s unique blend of advertising, branding, and digital expertise allows him to create and lead some of the foremost brands through his work at The Brand Leader®. Learn more about Kyle, read his other blogs, or buy his newest book, The Brand Book: A Branding Primer.